Characteristics of Legendary Pokémon

Aside from the high statistics shared by most Legendary Pokémon, many can only be obtained once per save file (excluding Pokémon events); in order to obtain multiple, a player would need to trade for one.

Statistical average

Stat

HP:

96.88

Attack:

109.77

Defense:

101.07

Sp.Atk:

113.02

Sp.Def:

105.38

Speed:

93.95

Total:

0

In the anime

Legendary Pokémon typically make their anime debut in a movie, rather than first appearing in a normal episode. Many are worshipped as gods by particular groups of people. In the anime they are often only seen by special Trainers, usually Ash Ketchum and people who have a special connection to them. Ill-intentioned people often seek to possess them, due to their power and rarity.

Legendary birds

The three Legendary birds, also known as the Winged Mirages, are the resident Legendary trio of the Kanto region. Each of them is based on a mythical bird, and each is associated with a season (though none of the three is associated with autumn).

Mewtwo

In the games, Mewtwo was too powerful for its creators and escaped from the Pokémon Mansion, wrecking it in the process. Mewtwo then made its home in Cerulean Cave, where all kinds of powerful Pokémon live.

In the anime, Mewtwo was featured prominently, appearing in several episodes of the original series, the first movie, and the first special episode. In the anime, Mewtwo was created by a group of scientists funded by Team Rocket boss Giovanni to create an enhanced clone of Mew for his own use. Although Mewtwo is initially a very angry Pokémon, viewing all humans as evil due to the acts of the scientists and Giovanni, after Ash Ketchum sacrifices himself to stop the fighting between Mew and Mewtwo, Mewtwo's heart softens, and it learns that some humans do care about their, and all, Pokémon. Meeting up with Ash again, Mewtwo is further shown that, despite being a genetically-enhanced clone of Mew, he and the other clones are no different to normal Pokémon, and because it erased Ash and his friends' memory at the end of their first meeting, realizes that Ash himself truly does care for others, even if he doesn't know them.

Generation II

More Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation II, adding five more Legendary Pokémon for a running total of 9. The Legendary Pokémon introduced in this generation down can be separated into a trio and a duo.

Legendary beasts

Like the Legendary birds of the previous generation, a second trio of similar types was introduced in the neighboring Johto region. These Legendary beasts, so named because their features are based on many different creatures, both real and mythical, as well as mythological deities, were trapped in the Brass Tower when it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, resulting in their death. The trio was revived by the power of Ho-Oh and now roam across the land because of their great power. It is unknown whether the three were already a Suicune, Raikou, and Entei when they died, or whether they were simply three non-Legendary Pokémon, and Ho-Oh reincarnated them as the first Legendary beasts. In the case of the latter, it is possible that these three would be the original three beasts, who created multiple descendants. For example, a new Entei is said to be born whenever a new volcano is formed.

Tower duo

The first game mascots that were also Legendary Pokémon, Lugia and Ho-Oh are a pair of Legendary birds which formerly resided in Ecruteak City atop tall towers, leading to their designation. However, when the Brass Tower, the home of Lugia, was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, they both flew away, Lugia resolving to make its new home in the Whirl Islands and Ho-Oh to search the world for a pure-hearted Trainer. The two are thought to be as closely related as they are polar opposites, being based on the eastern legends of the Fènghuáng and Ryūjin.

In the games, Lugia does not play a central role in the Generation II storyline, instead being mentioned only as having lived in Ecruteak City before the Brass Tower burned. It is found in the Whirl Islands in the Generation II games and their remakes if the player holds a Silver Wing. It reaches prominence in the storyline of Pokémon XD: Gale of Darkness, in which one is corrupted by Cipher to become the ultimate Shadow Pokémon, unable to be purified. It is also available on Navel Rock in Generation III, as an event-exclusive Legendary Pokémon.

In the anime, Lugia is featured in a central role in The Power of One, in which it is revealed that Ash is the Chosen One who must help it to quell the fighting of the Legendary birds. Another pair of them appeared when Ash and his friends traveled to the Whirl Islands in Johto. Likewise, in Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, Latios was stated to have a father. This implies that some Legendary Pokémon can breed in the wild.

Ho-Oh has a much greater focus during Generation II, being named as the creator of the Legendary beasts. It can be found, if the player has a Rainbow Wing, atop the Bell Tower in the Generation II games and their remakes. It makes an appearance in Pokémon Colosseum, as well, as a reward for purifying all Shadow Pokémon and clearing Mt. Battle's 100-battle challenge, and on Navel Rock like Lugia.

In the anime, Ho-Oh is notably the first Legendary Pokémon that appeared (outside of the opening animation, at least), flying over a rainbow as Ash Ketchum started his journey, at the end of Pokémon - I Choose You!. Ash has subsequently seen it several times over the course of his journey, but has never come face-to-face with it. Ho-Oh featured in I Choose You! in a prominent role.

Generation III

Many more Legendary Pokémon were added to the roster in Generation III, with the eight new Legendary Pokémon bringing the total to 17. At this point in the series, Legendary Pokémon began to have a greater role in the storyline of the core series games, with the villainous teams plotting to reawaken the ancient Legendary Pokémon for their own use.

Many of the stories regarding the legendaries were slightly changed, or given a new perspective in the remakes of the first Generation III core series games, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Five of them also received new forms.

Legendary titans

This third trio of Legendary Pokémon, based on the golems of Hebrew legend, is featured minimally in Hoenn legend. This Legendary trio, as well as its master, Regigigas, is commonly considered to have the most complicated method of in-game availability, with puzzles made of braille in the Hoenn region being the keys to unlocking their mystery.

Eon duo

While Latias and Latios do not have a distinct legend behind them, they are incredibly rare, with only one of the two available in normal gameplay and the other available through an event.

Latios and Latias take on counterpart availability in Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald as well as Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, with Latios being a roaming Pokémon in Ruby and SoulSilver, and Latias doing the same in Sapphire and HeartGold. In Emerald, after the player has defeated the Elite Four, their mother will ask if the Pokémon mentioned on TV was red or blue, and depending on that, one of the two will be roaming Hoenn. The other member of the duo will be found on Southern Island, accessible by Eon Ticket, in Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald, and in Pewter City, through the Enigma Stone event, in HeartGold and SoulSilver.

In Generation VI, Latias and Latios gained the ability to Mega Evolve. In Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, the Eon duo plays a much larger role in the main game's plot. They sense the grave danger Hoenn is about to face from the actions of Team MagmaOR/AquaAS, and while the player is talking to Steven on the east side of Route 118, LatiasOR/LatiosAS appears before the two, asking for their help. The player and Steven ride the Eon Pokémon to protect its counterpart from CourtneyOR/MattAS and their subordinate. After the fight LatiosOR/LatiasAS joins the player's party, holding its respective Mega Stone. Noticing the Mega Stone, Steven also gives the player a Mega Bracelet. After defeating GroudonOR/KyogreAS, the player receives an item called the Eon Flute from Steven, highlighting the special bond between the two. The items enables the player to summon the Eon Pokémon and use it to soar through the skies of Hoenn.

Weather trio

This trio of super-ancient Pokémon, known as the weather trio due to their weather-related Abilities, serve as the game mascots of Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Versions, and are the first Legendary trio to all be game mascots. The trio represents the three major components of the Earth: the hydrosphere, the lithosphere, and the atmosphere. Said to have expanded the land and sea, Groudon and Kyogre are among the most powerful Legendary Pokémon, while Rayquaza prevents the two from quarreling.

During the course of Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, Team Magma or Team Aqua, depending on the version, seeks out Groudon or Kyogre respectively, with the intention of awakening them to make more homes for Pokémon of the land or sea. Eventually, the plan goes wrong, and the player is forced to defeat or capture the Legendary Pokémon to stop a global disaster. In Pokémon Emerald, instead, both teams are on the loose, intending to awaken their respective Legendary Pokémon, and only by interference from the player and Rayquaza does the fight end up resolved.

The three members of the trio received new forms in Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Rayquaza is now able to Mega Evolve, and Groudon and Kyogre can undergo Primal Reversion while holding their respective Orb. Primal Reversion is considered the opposite of Mega Evolution. The latter is the outcome of the connection between Pokémon and human, and the former is derived solely from the Pokémon itself. While GroudonOR/KyogreAS are again sought by Team MagmaOR/AquaAS, Rayquaza is the target of a mysterious girl named Zinnia during the post game plot called Delta Episode.

In the game, their history is revealed: Thousands of years ago, during the primal age, the world was overflowing with natural energy. Primal Groudon and Primal Kyogre fought over that energy in endless furious clashes. In the face of Primal Groudon and Kyogre's great power, people could do nothing. But Rayquaza intervened, and its power overwhelmed that of the two Primal Pokémon, and peace returned to the world. A thousand years later, a meteoroid hit the earth, causing cracks in the ground that unleashed natural energy, causing Groudon and Kyogre to re-battle each other. Humans had a collective memory of how Rayquaza saved their race long ago, and that wish combined with the power of the Meteorite allowed Rayqauza to Mega Evolve for the first time and calm the two from quarreling.

In the anime, Groudon and Kyogre appeared in the two-part episode consisting of Gaining Groudon and The Scuffle of Legends. In these episodes, Team Magma and Team Aqua finally succeed in awakening the two, as in the games, though their conflict is resolved very quickly. Rayquaza appeared in Destiny Deoxys, where it fought against the pair of Deoxys. The weather trio all made a starring appearance in their Primal/Mega Forms in Hoopa and the Clash of Ages, engaging in a violent clash with many other legendaries.

Generation IV

Nine more Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation IV, bringing the total to 26 Legendary Pokémon. Many of the Legendary Pokémon of this generation have little connection to the plot of the games, instead being minor, post-Hall of Fame sidequests for the player to go on. Three of the newly introduced Legendary Pokémon (four prior to the Pokémon Platinum expansion of the Pokédex) are not in the Sinnoh regional Pokédex, appearing only in the National Pokédex.

Lake guardians

The lake guardians, Sinnoh's native Legendary trio, represent the spirit of all consciousness, with Uxie embodying knowledge, Mesprit embodying emotion, and Azelf embodying willpower. According to legend, having been created by the Original One, the trio have the power to tame the powerful dragons it also created.

In the games, Uxie, Mesprit, and Azelf are found in the caverns of Lake Acuity, Lake Verity, and Lake Valor, though Mesprit will roam Sinnoh after the player has encountered it, rather than battle immediately as the other two will. The trio are captured by Team Galactic's Commanders, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn, and subjected to the experiments of Charon to draw out the Red Chain from the gems in their bodies. Cyrus summons Dialga and Palkia, and alone, the lake guardians' power is not enough to stop them. Giratina interferes and draws Cyrus into the Distortion World, where the lake guardians assist the player in navigation through Giratina's lair.

In the games, Dialga and Palkia are sought by Cyrus to destroy and then remake the universe without spirit, a feature he hates about humanity. In Diamond and Pearl, Dialga or Palkia can be caught at Spear Pillar, while Giratina may be obtained after the Pokémon League has been conquered. In Platinum, however, Giratina interferes with Cyrus's planned destruction of the universe, and may be captured in its home, the Distortion World, while Dialga and Palkia cannot be found until the Elite Four have been defeated.

In Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum only, Dialga and Palkia were referenced as "mythical Pokémon" (Japanese: 神話のポケモン mythical Pokémon); however, this pre-dates the term Mythical Pokémon (Japanese: 幻のポケモン Illusory Pokémon) and has a different Japanese name.

Generation V

Nine additional Legendary Pokémon were introduced in Generation V, totaling 35 Legendary Pokémon. Reshiram and Zekrom played a large role in the storyline of Pokémon Black and White, with the respective mascot Pokémon being a necessary and unavoidable capture to progress to the end of the game.

Swords of Justice

Cobalion, Terrakion, and Virizion are a trio of Legendary Pokémon based on the titular characters of the 1844 French novel The Three Musketeers, and partially on hooved mammals such as deer, antelopes, oxen, goats, and horses. According to legend, they protect Pokémon from having their habitats destroyed by humans and have been known to have attacked human castles during the Middle Ages. Like the Three Musketeers, they are considered a trio but have a fourth, younger member in the form of Keldeo, a Mythical Pokémon, whom the other three rescued and raised after its home was destroyed by fire. All four of them can use their horns like swords, and learn their former signature move, Sacred Sword, at level 42 (43 for Keldeo, most likely to refer to it becoming part of the group later).

They made their anime debut together, in the fifteenth Pokémon film Kyurem VS. The Sword of Justice, where Keldeo was responsible for the freezing of the other three during a battle against Kyurem, and sought help from Ash and his friends. In the movie, Cobalion acts as the leader of the Swords of Justice, protecting Pokémon and humans alike through the world.

Forces of Nature

Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus are a trio of Pokémon based on kami: Fūjin, god of wind, Raijin, god of thunder and lightning, and Inari, a fertility deity. Together the three represent the heavens and the nourishing effect the sky has upon the earth. According to a folktale retold by children at the Abundant Shrine, Landorus punished Tornadus and Thundurus for destroying the land with gales and thunderstorms, and a shrine was built in honor of him. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2 they receive a new Forme, the Therian Forme, with their old Forme known as the Incarnate Forme; the Formes can be switched between with the Reveal Glass.

In the anime, the Forces of Nature were sought by Team Rocket in Unova from The Lonely Deino! until they were able to awaken them on Milos Island in Stopping the Rage of Legends! Part 1 and Part 2. Tornadus and Thundurus fought on the island, while Ash and his friends awakened Landorus to put a stop to the fight (they all appeared in Incarnate Forme during these episodes). They debuted in Therian Forme in Unova's Survival Crisis!, when Team Rocket once again attempted to capture them as the final goal of Operation Tempest. Together, they are said to have the power to control nature, which can be harnessed by one who possesses both Meloetta and the Reveal Glass.

Tao trio

Zekrom and Reshiram represent balance through the aspects of Yin and Yang, respectively. Originally, they were a single dragon that helped found the Unova region's nation, but fighting between the two brothers who founded the nation split them into two halves. Despite this, the two Pokémon do not willingly fight each other.

In the games, Team Plasma hunt either Reshiram or Zekrom in Pokémon Black and White in order to use them to liberate all Pokémon from their owners. N captures one of them and defeats Alder. The other dragon emerges from the Dragon Stone the player possesses, and the player must capture it and use it to defeat N. After his defeat, N rides off on his dragon to a far-off region. In Pokémon Black 2 and White 2, which take place two years later, Ghetsis revives Team Plasma and captures Kyurem in order to freeze and take control of the Unova region. N confronts him with ZekromB2/ReshiramW2, but Ghetsis seizes the opportunity to fuse the Tao dragon with Kyurem using the DNA Splicers to create Black KyuremB2/White KyuremW2. The player defeats Kyurem and Ghetsis, restoring balance to the region.

Kyurem is related to Reshiram and Zekrom and represents wuji, which is the absence of yin and yang. Using the DNA Splicers, Kyurem can be fused with Reshiram or Zekrom into White Kyurem or Black Kyurem, respectively; with the same item, the fusion can be undone.

Aura trio

The Legendary game mascots of Pokémon X and Y are Xerneas and Yveltal, and they form the aura trio along with Zygarde. Xerneas and Yveltal represent life and destruction, respectively, while Zygarde is said to monitor the balance of the ecosystem and reveal its power when the ecosystem is disrupted. Xerneas has the power to share eternal life, while Yveltal absorbs the life force of everything around it. Xerneas sleeps in the form of a tree, while Yveltal sleeps in the form of a cocoon. Xerneas and Yveltal have the Abilities Fairy Aura and Dark Aura, respectively, while Zygarde's Aura Break reverses the effects of these Abilities.

Xerneas has two Formes, appearing in Active Mode in battle and Neutral Mode otherwise. Yveltal has no form differences. Zygarde appeared only as Zygarde 50% Forme in Pokémon X and Y, but had two other Formes and two further components introduced in the anime and in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Zygarde's other Formes are Zygarde 10% Forme, a dog-like Forme that includes 10% of Zygarde's full power, and Zygarde Complete Forme, whose power is said to exceed that of Xerneas and Yveltal. Its further components are Zygarde Cells, tiny cell-like creatures that make up Zygarde's body, and Zygarde Cores, cell-like creatures said to be its mind.

In the anime, Zygarde debuted in in Mega Evolution Special IV in its 50% Forme alongside a Zygarde Core. A Zygarde Core has traveled alongside Ash and his friends, nicknamed Squishy by Bonnie, since the beginning of the XYZ arc, and another Zygarde Core referred to as Z2 was captured by Team Flare. Both of these Cores have appeared in all three Formes of Zygarde.

Cosmog line

The Cosmog line are the only Legendary Pokémon known to be part of an evolutionary family. Cosmog is a Psychic-type Legendary Pokémon introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon. Cosmog has a major role in the plot as a Pokémon being studied by the Aether Foundation. Lillie, the daughter of Aether Foundation's president, Lusamine, spirits Cosmog away and nicknames it Nebby, hiding it in her bag as she tries to learn more about it by visiting the guardian deities. Over the course of the game, Nebby evolves into Cosmoem, another Legendary Pokémon, and eventually the version mascot of the game: the Psychic/Steel-type Solgaleo in Pokémon Sun and the Psychic/Ghost-type Lunala in Pokémon Moon. Another Cosmog can be obtained by the player in the post-game.

Necrozma

Potential Legendary Pokémon

In Generation VII, the Ultra Beasts may be Legendary Pokémon, but their status has never been explicitly stated in official media.

Trivia

Though Unown is not considered to be a Legendary Pokémon, in Spell of the Unown: Entei, it is shown in Molly Hale's book about Legendary Pokémon, its power (in large numbers, at least) appears to match that of Legendary Pokémon, and within the canon of the movie it is specifically referred to as a Legendary Pokémon.

According to interviews with Junichi Masuda in 2009, Legendary Pokémon are the most difficult to design names for because Game Freak strives to make sure that the names of Legendary Pokémon are universal across the different translations, so extra work must be put into their names to make sure that they work universally in all languages and don't conflict with anything else. This is consistent with the relatively small number of Legendary Pokémon that have had their names changed significantly outside of Japan (currently eleven: the Legendary birds, the lake guardians, the Forces of Nature, and in Chinese only, the Mew duo).

Giratina, Lugia, Ho-Oh, and fused Kyurem are the only Legendary Pokémon that have a battle theme which is shared with no other Pokémon.